August 2011 New Products

Power Brokers:Cleveland Crate Motor
While the original Ford Cleveland has been known to be a high-output, high-rpm, small-block Ford, the McKeown Motorsport Engineering (MME) Cleveland crate engine (available carbed or EFI) produces vibrant airflow without having to turn high rpm, hence they are completely streetable and suited to pump fuel. With recent advances in engine electronics, in-house CNC-machining, and MME’s experience in camshaft design, the MME Cleveland generates excellent driveability from cruise to redline. Operating from 1,500 to 6,500 rpm and using an 850-cfm carburetor or port fuel injection and 10.75-11.0:1 compression ratio, it produces 640-650 hp at the crankshaft with a broad torque curve. The MME Cleveland is offered in street or race configuration, as a complete running engine or as individual parts. In addition, MME supplies the engine with intake and cylinder head configurations to suit the hood clearance requirements of most body styles and performance needs.

GM A-BodyRideTech Coilover Packages
With nearly 4 million Chevelles made from 1964 to 1972, it’s no wonder they are America’s favorite muscle car. RideTech has now created a new Coilover Package that transforms that wallowing slug into a world-class driving machine. Building from the StrongArm tubular control arm package that RideTech created for their ShockWave products, their new Coilover Packages also include StrongArm front upper and lower tubular control arms, geometry-corrected tall drop spindles to increase camber curve and to drop static height, StrongArms rear upper and lower tubular control arms (with new articulating and adjustable ends), and complete drop-in coilover shocks for front and rear in your choice of non-adjustable, rebound adjustable, triple adjustable, or electronic adjustable units. RideTech offers recommended spring rates, or can provide optional spring rates of your choice. The pricing starts at $3,100 complete (depending on shock options). The new RideTech Coilover Package for the Chevelle is a completely bolt-in system that can be installed in a few hours in your garage with simple handtools. It offers great performance for street driving, as well as all-out hard-core track action.

Cool Tool:Miller F-Series ArcStation
PHR recently got the chance to demo a bunch of cool products from Miller Electric, known most notably for their professional welders and plasma cutters. One really noteworthy product was their new F-Series ArcStation, a welding table designed for portability and space savings. The 30FX F-Series has a folding design, convenient handle, and wheels that offer the ability to take the 74-pound bench to the job site or to move freely around a home garage. The 30FX model (list price $247) measures 30 by 30 inches and has a 3/16-inch X-pattern tabletop that makes clamping trouble-free and simplifies cleanup. Other features include a 1½-inch diameter steel tube frame for stability and support, a removable gun holder, a weight capacity of 500 pounds, and an optional 5-inch X-clamp (available for $35). For the guy who regularly fabs in his small home garage, we can’t think of anything better.

Performance DistributorsSlip-Collar Distributor
Performance Distributors new Slip Collar D.U.I. Distributor features a slip collar with ⅞ inch of adjustability. This is great if you have decked your heads or milled your block, which changes the distance between where your distributor rests on the intake and where it meshes with your cam gear. An adjustable collar will ensure a precise installation, while preventing engine damage from the distributor being out of alignment. The Chevy Slip Collar D.U.I. is an excellent choice for original 348-409-427-454 tall-deck big-block engines (produced from 1958 to 1965), and it’s also a great bolt-on for both the ZZ-572 620 HP and ZZ-572 720 HP crate engines, both which have tall-deck blocks. The distributor comes complete, including Street/Strip D.U.I. coil (or Racing coil) and Dyna-Module, which allows you to open up your plug gaps to .050-.055 inch, burning your fuel more completely. Available in red, blue, black, yellow, and clear.

MSD APS Starter
MSD’s Advanced Power System Starters will crank your engine over to get it fired up. MSD APS Starters now feature a 3.4hp motor powering a 4.4:1 reduction gearset to deliver great torque—that’s enough for an 18:1 compression racing engine. Inside the compact housing MSD put two ball bearings to guide the balanced armature through countless smooth engagements and starts. Another handy feature is that the billet mounting block can be rotated in different positions to help clear oil pans, headers, and suspension parts. Also, the starter is powdercoated MSD red and will stay looking good, even though it’s underneath your car. Currently, MSD offers starters for Chevy V-8s (153 and 168 tooth), PN 5095; LS-Series, PN 5096; and Ford small-blocks, PN 5090. MSD also offers a compact replacement starter for Chrysler engines from small-blocks to 440s, PN 5098. Additional starter designs are expected in the future.